Progress made by schools on vacant buildings

The Cape Girardeau School District is one step closer to unloading two of its vacant buildings.

A bid has been accepted on the former board office at 61 N. Clark St., and a judge ruled last week that a contract between the district and a Jefferson City construction company owner for the purchase of the L.J. Schultz School is valid.

Although the sale hasn't been finalized, school officials said a bid has been accepted from Teen Challenge of Mid-America for purchase of the former board office, which has sat vacant since the offices relocated down the street last fall.

Jack Smart, executive director with Teen Challenge Mid-America, declined to comment until the sale is finalized.

Judge's ruling

Another empty building, Schultz School at 101 S. Pacific, has been tied up in a legal battle for over a year. But with the ruling of Judge William Syler Nov. 29, the title to the property will be transferred to Ray Bax of RMB's Bax Construction.

"Basically, the ruling says he does owe us the $2 million," said Rob Huff, the district's chief financial officer. "But we expect that there could be an appeal before this is really settled."

Bax offered to buy the brick school in January 2002 for $2 million. His initial plan was to renovate the building for office space the state was seeking bids on to house three state departments in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Bax lost the bid to a proposal by Jefferson City's Prost Builders, which is renovating the 73-year-old Marquette Hotel on Broadway. Bax then attempted to withdraw his contract with the school district.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128